Fischler Report: NHL teams will keep tabs on Frozen Four

The Frozen Four field is set, with Ferris State, Union, Boston
College and Minnesota advancing to Tampa Bay Times Forum for games
on April 5 & 7. The two semifinals couldn’t be bigger
contrasts. The first, featuring Ferris State and Union, is between
two teams making their first Frozen Four appearances, without an
NHL Draft pick between them.

The Rangers will be keeping a close on BC
forward Chris Kreider, their prized prospect. (Dave Arnold
Photography)

The other half of the bracket has combined for 41 Frozen Four
appearances and nine championships. Boston College and Minnesota
boast 26 NHL Draft picks on their rosters, including three
first-rounders.

The Boston College-Minnesota Frozen Four collision on April 5 at
Tampa Bay Times Forum will be closely watched by the Rangers high
command, primarily because of Blueshirts prospect and current
Boston College forward Chris Kreider (Boxford,
Mass.).

The 2009 first-round draft choice has a rare combination of size
and speed and has displayed the ability to finish scoring chances
throughout his time at the collegiate level. Those attributes
should make for a forward who conceivably could provide scoring for
the Rangers in their Cup quest.

Key players to watch

Ferris State’s Taylor Nelson, a senior
goaltender from Regina, Sask., allowed just two goals in a pair of
2-1 victories in the Midwest Regional, posting a .959 save
percentage. Union’s Jerry Welsh. The 6-3, 200-pound center
has goals in five straight games and 27 on the season. A junior,
Welsh has several NHL suitors hoping to pull him out of school with
a contract offer this season.

Boston College’s Johnny Gaudreau is the
latest in BC’s line of diminutive superstars. The freshman
was a fourth-round pick of the Calgary Flames. At 5-7, 170 pounds,
Gaudreau has played his best in big games, earning MVP of the
Beanpot and the Hockey East tournament.

Minnesota’s Erik Haula, a Finnish-born
center, is a Minnesota Wild Draft pick who leads the Gophers in
scoring. He has points in six straight games entering the Frozen
Four.

All four teams won their regular-season championships, so while
Ferris State and Union may seem like surprises, they have proven
themselves over the course of the season.

GOSSIP

After being invited by the Islanders to training camp
as an unsigned tryout last fall, Jay Pandolfo
(Burlington, Mass.) says he’s having fun and would like
to play another season. “I’ve enjoyed it a lot just
being a part of a team again and competing,” explains
Pandolfo. “That’s the big thing I missed being
away.” ...

Carolina defenseman Bryan
Allen often has to remind himself that his teammate
on the blueline, Justin Faulk, is only
20-years-old. Faulk has logged major minutes for the Hurricanes and
his consistent play has impressed coach Kirk
Muller. “We talked a month ago about being
careful, that it’s a big step, especially for kids coming out
of college,” says Muller. “He hasn’t slowed down.
Now we’re saying, ‘He’s a guy with young legs and
let’s keep using him.’”…

Quebec City is moving apace in the hopes of gaining
its “second” NHL team. (Do you recall the original NHL
Nordiques?) A deal has been reached to construct a $400 million,
18,000-seat QC arena complex scheduled to be ready in 2015.
“The dream has finally become a reality,” says hustling
Quebec City Mayor Regis Lebeaume.

If Phoenix does lose the Coyotes this
spring, Quebecor President and
CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau can
try to buy the ‘Yotes and, until the new rink is built,
temporarily put a transferred Coyotes team in the
current Colisee. That is, of course, if the league
approves such a move. Right now nothing public has been said about
a Phoenix sale or move.